The Raven Key

"The Raven Key" by Harper L. Carnes is a dark and haunting tale that delves into themes of trauma, identity, and the supernatural. This gripping story takes readers on a journey through the psyche of its main character, Seth Cunningham, as he grapples with the demons of his past and a sinister presence that threatens to consume him.

The novel begins with a chilling scene from Seth's childhood when his mother attempted to drown him in a pond. This traumatic event has left him scarred both mentally and emotionally, haunted by memories and nightmares. As Seth tries to lead a semblance of a normal life, he meets Gabriel, a college student who becomes his source of comfort and support. Their budding romance provides a glimmer of hope in Seth's otherwise dark world.

What sets "The Raven Key" apart is the supernatural element woven into the narrative. Seth is connected to a mysterious presence that communicates with him through ravens. This presence exudes a malevolent aura, and its influence over Seth becomes increasingly pronounced. The author skillfully builds tension and suspense as the story unfolds, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Carnes's writing style is engaging and immersive, allowing readers to delve deep into Seth's psyche and experience his inner turmoil. The author explores the complexities of trauma, mental illness, and the struggle for identity with sensitivity and depth.

The characters in the story are well-developed, and their relationships add depth to the narrative. Seth's journey of self-discovery is a central theme, and his character arc is both compelling and poignant. The supporting characters, particularly Gabriel, provide a sense of warmth and humanity amidst the darkness.

It's important to note that "The Raven Key" contains dark and mature themes, including depictions of mental illness, past abuse, and discussions of past sexual assault. These themes are handled with care and are integral to the story's exploration of trauma and healing.

In conclusion, "The Raven Key" is a haunting and thought-provoking novel that blends elements of horror, fantasy, and psychological suspense. Harper L. Carnes has crafted a gripping narrative that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche while offering glimmers of hope and redemption. This book is not for the faint of heart but is a compelling read for those who appreciate dark and psychologically rich storytelling.

I enjoyed this journey into an urban fantasy setting. It was accessible and well-written and contains a good amount of romance and mystery to keep you on your toes.

The characters are interesting and I found myself rooting for Seth and Gabriel. I didn’t quite understand Silas and how he manifested but he was a solid villain for the story and I found myself fearing him whenever his name was mentioned. Seth is an adorable character, I wish I could have taken him home and wrapped him in cotton wool or something… he comes across as so innocent, and with everything that had happened to him, it was surprising and endearing to see such a purely adorable character grace the page.

The plot was interesting too. We start out as a straightforward coming of age romance and somewhere along the way it seamlessly morphs into a paranormal fantasy thriller. Cleverly done. Overall a good and easy book to delve into. Worth a looksee.

Seth is haunted by the memories of his mother trying to drown him as a child. When he lies about his age to Gabriel that he’s interested in, they get into a sweet and caring relationship. Gabriel is compassionate about Seth’s trauma but also harbors secrets of his own. As Seth discovers newfound powers, their world is upended, and they must navigate their own secrets, truths, and the complexities of their relationship while striving to save themselves and others.

“The Raven Key” by Harper L. Carnes is a perfect queer fantasy book. I loved the unique spin on lore which reminds me a lot of Native American lore. I loved Seth and Gabriel’s sweet and complicated relationship that’s realistic despite being a fantasy book. I felt the trauma aspects of the book were good. 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait for a second book.

Unexpected! I love going in without knowing the background information of a book or series. I enjoyed the author's explanation of the background of each character and the romantic connection of the main characters. Although this is fantasy based, the "horror" aspects were not overdone and the scenes were short enough for the reader to understand but not too long to where I was bored. I also loved that the author incorporated scenes and conversation in Spanish and delved a little bit into our culture. The only aspect of this book that I did not like was the age gap between the main love interests. I'm not a fan of underage people having relationships with older individuals. In this case one person was 17 and the other in their early 20's. I do appreciate that the author provided a trigger warning in the synopsis of the book, briefly at the beginning of the book and in a section in the back of the book for topics related to abuse, mental illness, etc. I wish more books provided that to the reader! Overall, this was a quick read but one where I was able to get lost for a bit. I look forward to reading the other books in the series!

This was definitely a good book! The writing and pacing were phenomenal!! I will say that this book is definitely for mature audiences as there are multiple s3x scenes (that were very descriptive 🙃). All and all I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and can't wait for the next part as it did leave the reader hanging.

This book is filled with heartache, tragedy, horror/terror, romance, and struggles.

It will fill you with rage, make you smile, pull at your heart strings, and make you cry all in the span of one single chapter.

As a trauma survivor and someone with PTSD, I love that Harper L. Carnes incorporates this into her writing/book and shows the struggles and darkness within this certain mental illness. It helps shine a light on a very real struggle and I think she does a beautiful job of doing so with her writing.

And speaking of writing, it was beautiful. It was well-done, and detailed to the point it wasn’t difficult to imagine the story unfolding.

I have to say, I’m impatiently waiting for book two now, because, THAT ENDING 😮‍💨 (I also think I read it’s from a different POV so I’m excited about that!!)

But, this was for sure an easy 5 stars for me, and I can’t wait to see more from Harper L. Carnes 👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

In "The Raven Key: The Famirian Chronicles" by Harper L. Carnes treats us to an imaginative world of fantasy and romance that sweeps you off your feet and carries you to a world where secrets and supernatural powers entwine.

Seth Cunningham's life has been anything but ordinary, plagued by a traumatic childhood event that left deep scars. As he navigates the intricacies of life, Carnes' paints a picture of his journey to find love, redemption, and self-discovery. While the horrors of Seth's past loom large, a budding romance with Gabriel provides a ray of hope in his otherwise turbulent world.

A haunting voice within Seth echoes from the depths of his soul. It's a voice shared only with the ravens who appear to serve a dark, insatiable hunger. As Seth grapples with his inner demons and the unearthly forces at play, we are thrust into an intricate dance between the ordinary and the supernatural.

Carnes has contrived a story that blends the romantic with the supernatural, painting a world where love and darkness coexist. The descriptions and well-drawn characters envelope you in the story, making you feel every emotion and sense every heartbeat. It's a tale that tantalizes with intrigue and mystique, leaving you yearning for the next turn of the page.

"The Raven Key" is a unique and imaginative experience. Carnes has crafted a story that probes the human psyche and explores the resilience of the human spirit against the forces of darkness. This book will leave you yearning for more.

"A spellbinding blend of romance and the supernatural that will leave you breathless."

"Harper L. Carnes weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, redemption, and the unknown."

"An enchanting journey into a world where secrets and supernatural forces collide."

"Immerse yourself in a story that explores the resilience of the human spirit against darkness."

"A unique and imaginative experience that will leave you yearning for more."

"A mix of the ordinary and the supernatural, where love and darkness coexist."

"Prepare to be transported to a world where the mysteries of the heart meet unearthly forces."

"A vivid tale that will make you feel every emotion and sense every heartbeat."

The world building was really interesting. I’m excited to see where this author goes! The background characters were great! It took a minute for me to connect with the main character but overall a great story!!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!

This was a fun read. I loved all the magical aspects, and I'm a sucker for a good cursed from childhood story. The romance was great, I loved every character involved, and the cliffhanger ending has me dying for more.

I appreciated the warnings before reading this, it had a great overall story with characters that worked in the world that was set. Harper L. Carnes has a great writing style and the characters were written perfectly.

An intriguing read, and a phenomenal first entry into a startup series. The mystery of Seth’s mother’s attack that starts off the story and sets the tone for how it progresses is quite intriguing and keeps the reader engaged. I did not like the subplot of Seth lying about his age to Gabriel however, and how it’s played off as Gabriel overreacting to his age

This was a good October, spooky season read that I would recommend to new adults who enjoy steamy romance scenes. The spice was there for sure!